Another person was reported to be dead during Monday's attacks in Vienna. Attacks across central Vienna, in which gunmen killed 5 civilians and injured several others, were carried out by at least one "Islamist terrorist," Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Tuesday.
According to ORF TV, the death toll includes two male and two female civilians in addition to the attacker who was shot dead.
In a televised news conference early morning, Nehammer said one attacker, who was wearing an explosives belt that turned out to be fake, was an ISIL sympathizer. That assailant was shot to death by police, who are still hunting for other attackers.
At least 14 others were injured in the shootings. A police officer is among the seriously injured, the Vienna Police (LPD Wien) wrote on Twitter.
There were six different shooting locations, which were in the immediate vicinity of the street housing the central synagogue, and the attackers used long guns, it added.
Nehammer warned people to stay away from the center of the city, as officials said border checks were being reinforced and that children would not be required to attend school on Tuesday.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the army would protect sites in the capital so the police could focus on anti-terror operations.
Police blocks a street near Schwedenplatz square after exchange of gunfire in Vienna, November 2, 2020. /Reuters
First gunshots were fired at around 8:00 p.m. local time in the city's centrally-located first district. The shooting began just hours before Austria was to re-impose a coronavirus lockdown to try to slow the spread of COVID-19, and bars and restaurants played host to people enjoying a final night of relative freedom.
Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch said on Twitter it was not clear whether the Vienna synagogue and adjoining offices had been the target and said they were closed at the time.
Frequent sirens and helicopters could be heard in the city center as emergency services responded to the attack.
Kurz condemned the "hideous terrorist attack" in the Austrian capital, vowing to "take decisive action" against the perpetrators.
"We are currently going through difficult times in our republic," Kurz wrote on Twitter. "We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism and will fight these attacks resolutely by all means."
European Council President Charles Michel shows his support to Austria on his Twitter. /@eucopresident
EU leaders, countries condemn Vienna shootings
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as well as leaders of European countries condemned the shooting attacks in Vienna late on Monday.
"Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act that violates life and our human values," said Michel on Twitter. "We stand with Austria," he stressed.
Von der Leyen said she was shocked and saddened by the brutal attack that took place in Vienna. "Europe stands in full solidarity with Austria. We are stronger than hatred and terror."
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday evening that the French share the shock and sorrow of the Austrian people following the shootings, pledging that "our enemies must know who they are dealing with. We will not give in."
The German Foreign Office tweeted late Monday, "Even we don't know the full extent of the terror yet, our thoughts are with the injured and victims at this difficult time. We will not give way to hatred which is aimed at dividing our societies."
In London, British Prime Minister Johnson said the "UK's thoughts are with the people of Austria – we stand united with you against terror."
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted: "There is no room for hatred and violence in our common European home."
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the shooting "a heinous act" and expressed "solidarity" with Austria.
Police blocks a street near Schwedenplatz square after exchange of gunfire in Vienna, November 2, 2020. /Reuters
Past attacks in Austria
In 1981, two people were killed and 18 injured during an attack by two Palestinians at the same Vienna synagogue. In 1985, a Palestinian extremist group killed three civilians in an attack at the airport.
In recent years, Austria has been spared the sort of large-scale attacks seen in Paris, Berlin and London.
In August, authorities arrested a 31-year-old Syrian refugee suspected of trying to attack a Jewish community leader in the country's second-largest city Graz. The leader was unhurt.
(With input from agencies)